Army troops rescue kidnapped Fil-Am in Zambo Norte

Troops from the Army’s 42nd Infantry Battalion rescued a kidnapped Filipino-American after a gunfight with armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in the hinterland of Zamboanga del Norte’s Sirawai town on Wednesday morning, September 30.

The 64-year-old Fil-Am Rex Triplitt was abducted by 4 armed men in military uniforms while on his way home from a remote barangay last September 16. His wife, Celsa Maani, was able to escape during the commotion and reported the incident to authorities.

In a report from Camp Sang-an, home of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, in Pagadian City, Army troops pursuing the kidnappers engaged in a firefight with the armed group at 10 am, Wednesday, in Barangay Pisa Itom in Sirawai.

The report added that the kidnappers fled during the shooting, leaving behind Triplitt.

“Our troops relentlessly conducted pursuit operations to deny terrorists from leaving the Peninsula. We are preventing them from transporting the victim to Basilan or Sulu,” said Lieutenant Colonel Leon Onggao Jr, commander of the 42nd Infantry Battalion, based in Barangay Doña Cecilia, Sirawai.

Triplitt was brought to the Army camp in Sirawai for medical examination and debriefing.

sirawai pnp

Sirawai PNP

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Leonel Nicolas, commander of 102nd Infantry Brigade to which the 42nd Infantry Battalion belonged, thanked the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for providing assistance to the pursuing troops.

Nicolas said that Army troops and other units would continue to hunt the fleeing suspected Abu Sayyaf Group. The suspects separated into smaller groups to avoid detection.

Sirawai is part of Zamboanga del Norte’s triple S and B area (Siocon, Sibuco, Sirawai, and Baliguian towns) where both the MILF and MNLF maintain camps.

Triple S and B has been known to be the lair of lawless groups that have been operating in Zamboanga Peninsula. – Rappler.com